Fed up

[Erin001]

Hiya, I'm an asthmatic and had an asthma attack last night had issues for the last few days

had paramedics out last night got given nebuliser and injected with steroids and then went to hospital to be checked for discharged because nebuliser worked

But this morning I was wheezy and I can barely walk without wheezing and been to GP today she gave me steroids but I'm still wheezing taken inhaler it's easing but it keeps coming back

I'm so fed up of my asthma I've been in out of hospital on and off steroids all winter and still very much struggling

Seeing specialist on Tuesday but I've had enough

Sorry for the moan

Just need a bit of support right now and hopefully I'm not the only one who'd fed up with their condition

[knitter]

I am on my second day of yet another course of antibiotics and steroids for my asthma/ COPD too, they have only just started to kick in and I am beginning to feel ' normal ' for once, I have yet another chest infection.

Hopefully your steroids will start working soon, but if you are struggling ring 111 for advice or go back to A and E .

The nebuliser you were given last night may have only given you temporary relief.......mine only lasts four hours or so.

I practice Buteyko Breathing exercises, and they have really helped me, but they are not suitable for everyone and you need to do them correctly to prevent harm. Courses are expensive and you really need to get a good recommended teacher....they are not all well trained I find.

There are books available too, I have one by Patrick McKeown .......could you discuss Buteyko with your specialist on Tuesday to see what she/ he thinks .

Have you a peak flow meter handy to check your condition ....remember to get help tonight if you are struggling though.

Best wishes

[Erin001 in reply to knitter]

Yes I have an asthma diary I write down all my PFR readings and all my medicines and the timings

It has gone down quite a bit normal/ is 270/280 and it's gone down 150-220 which isn't great at all

The thing is my body feels like it's 90 odd when actually I'm no where near that age it's horrible and i can't imagine what my body is going to be like when I'm elderly it's struggling enough now and I've had enough I want to breathe like a healthy person

[2greys]

Hi Erin,

I do not have asthma, I have severe emphysema instead.I do understand your frustration and desire to be able to breathe like a healthy person. I spend at least 10 hrs a day being really breathless and have to use pursed lip breathing, because I choose to carry on working full time, when I don't have to, I even get out of breathe from just eating food. I get fed up with it too but with the cards that I've been dealt with I have no choice other than get on with living.

Don't worry about how your body will feel in old age, take it from me, I'm not 90 but 68 this year. I am so much fitter now, since exercising hard, fitter than I was 20 years ago, I feel great and thankful to be alive and lead a much richer, fuller life in spite of my condition (perhaps I might even say "....because of my condition"). You have a lot of living to do yet. Don't let it grind you down, (now comes that old cliché) 'There is always someone worse off than you'.

You will come out of this a stronger person, although you might not see it now. This episode in your life is just another experience that you will learn from and later, be able to draw strength from.

Remember you can always have a moan on here, we are all singing the same tune, just with different words instead. I hope you improve very soon.

[Stumpy55]

Hello Erin poor you, I can understand why your feeling so fed up and don't worry about having a moan we all feel like that from time to time. It makes you feel a bit better to unwind, and to know your not on your own. I think this winter has been the worst for chest infections, Asthma attacks and all sorts of other lovely bugs which are still going around 🙄 I too have had a chest infection which landed me in hospital before Christmas. I wish you well on Tuesday and hope everything gets sorted out for you. Let us know how you get on . Take care of yourself ✋️😊

[Erin001 in reply to Stumpy55]

I was in hospital Boxing Day with asthma attack had a months worth of steroids had 3 days break and back on them and still wheezy

Thx for understanding all of you I knew this was the place where I'd find people who understand I know there are people worse than me but I'm getting worse my asthma is getting worse as I get older

Thx you thx you

[Dusty017]

Hi Erin - My partner has severe emphysema COPD Stage 4 and we have our own nebuliser. He hates hospitals so we manage most things ourselves. A nebuliser in the morning, a saline neb at lunchtime and a further nebuliser at night. Have also invested in SoeMac machine, which although expensive seems to be helping his sleeping at night. Have a good GP so she knows I will not tolerate being told he cannot have something without a good reason. You can buy cheap nebulisers from Lidl. We have both the expensive one and a couple of cheap ones from Lidl to allow for getting the expensive one calibrated. I would look into whether purchasing one would be good for you. Best of luck.

[mskpjb]

Hi Erin001, I know exactly what you mean. I have asthma and severe emphysema. I've had lots of pneumonias and chest infections but rarely asthma attacks. Yesterday I was quite breathless and the wheezing and whistling was really pronounced even though I was on 4lpm Oxygen. Biggest problem was when I went to bed, fighting for breath, upright on 4 pillows and now on my overnight 1lpm oxygen O2 was 73 so I knew I had to do something. I won't increase my oxygen overnight- too much like self medicating- and dangerous. So I got up and took 6 steroids which helped. I'll continue those for a week. Don't feel I've an infection, no temperature, don't feel hot or cold etc so I won't jump on the antibiotics. Funny thing is I had a phone call this morning from a friend back home ( She has the same conditions) and it all happened for her yesterday in exactly the same way. Sheilaxx

[hopetorun]

Hi i am sorry to hear you are suffering. This winter seems to have been bad for people with lung problems.

I think sometimes you have to relax and not do anything for a week. Just let the meds do their job.

I know tjat can be difficult espeically if you live alone. When ypu are well cook some extra food so you have some meals ready in the freezer fpr the times when you are not well. Lets hope spring is not fsr off and will cheer us all y

Up take care x

[Erin001]

Hi all thx for support and advice unfortunately Wednesday night I had the Paramedics out due to asthma got taken to A&E was soon discharged and then night after I had them out again due to needing 10 ventolin every 3 hours not 4 and a friend brought a sats monitor round and i had heart rate of 130 O2 was 90/91 so ambo was called and had a CFR who was an old schools friends dad and then a first responder who was there on Wednesday night which made life a lot easier which meant I didn't have to explain much to him because he was there so he just hello trouble and knew what was going on he just needed update from when he left me got taken in he gave me a nebuliser and hydrocortisone I believe IM shoulder

And a new crew came and took me in I needed a nebuliser on transit cos my sats dropped I was very tachy at this point due to nebs and when I got to the ED I got given another nebuliser, then got transferred to the assessment unit and then to a ward where I was monitored and given inhalers every two hours and increased it when I was managing okay and once I was managing 4 hrs they discharged me and I'm ok now I had one slight dodgy turn last night but I was fine and didn't need to go back in I'm seeing my consultant on Tuesday to discuss next stages. I did see my asthma nurse specialist yesterday it was kind of humorous because she walked into the ward looked at board with names on it and saw my name and went oh no and turned round and saw me had a chat and are still trying to figure out next stages which is why they want me to go in to see them and the consultant

The paramedics (South Central Ambulance Service) were amazing both times always are but the first lot kept me amused and the second time just as good kept talking to me about all sorts while keeping an eye on my condition

Those at ED and ward were good as well with keeping me in until it was safe for discharge

Thx for support x